A veteran state lawmaker, a mayor and two new faces to politics face off Tuesday in the Republican primary to for the 22nd Ohio Senate District.
The 22nd Ohio Senate District represents approximately 370,000 residents — encompassing all of Richland, Ashland and Medina counties and a portion of Holmes County.
The winner will run against Democratic candidate Steve Johnson of Ashland in November. Johnson is unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.
Voters on Tuesday will choose among state Rep. Mark Romanchuk from Ontario, Brunswick Mayor and attorney Ron Falconi, teacher and Air Force veteran Cory Branham of Crestline and Tim Hoven, a maintenance supervisor in Medina County.
Current Sen. Larry Obhof (R-Medina), who also serves as the state Senate president, is prevented from term limits from running for re-election.
All four candidates spoke of possessing conservative values in terms of belief in limited government, support of pro-life issues and 2nd Amendment rights.
The race has been one of the more expensive in the state. In his pre-primary report to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, Romanchuk reported expenditures of $112,125 with $50,189 still on hand. Falconi had spent $62,082.72 and had $40,005.88 remaining.
Branham had spent $2,205.85 and had $5,136 on hand while Hoven had spent $21.24 with $78.66 remaining.
An Ohio senate term is four years and the position pays $60,584 annually.
The 57-year-old Romanchuk is completing his forth and final two-year term in the Ohio House from the 2nd District, representing all of Richland County. Term limits prevent him from seeking re-election.
What’s the difference in campaigning in a one-county House race versus the multi-county Senate district?
“The first thing you learn as a candidate for state representative is you wear out a pair of shoes,” Romanchuck said with a laugh. “When you run for state senate, you start wearing out tires. It’s a lot of windshield time.”
Romanchuk is the owner and president of PR Machine Works, Inc., a contract manufacturer providing precision machining, fabrication, and assembly services in the city of Ontario.Â
Prior to his work with PR Machine Works, he worked at Hughes Aircraft Company as a U.S. diplomat to the former Soviet Union in support of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. He was also based in Japan as a team leader and technical advisor to the U.S. Navy in support of the F/A – 18 aircraft.
Romanchuk said district residents are most interested in the economy.
“If they are a non-business owner, their general response is the economy is good. They see a lot of opportunity and they have more money in their take-home paychecks,” he said.
“If they are a business owner, their response is the economy is good, but they can’t find people to fill open jobs,” Romanchuk said, adding the issue could be locating workers with the right skills or who can pass a drug test.
“It cuts across all sectors of the economy. There are many jobs going unfilled. And these are good jobs — full-time, good pay and with benefits,” he said.
Romanchuk, endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee, said his experience in Columbus makes a difference in the race.
“My experience in the (House) will help me hit the ground running in the Senate,” he said. “My experience as a business owner is very important when you are talking about the economy and job creation.
“I also have some unique experiences. I have lived and worked all around the world, with different types of governments,” Romanchuk said. “I know what works and what doesn’t work. All of that perspective from my experience goes into everything I do and every decision I make.”
The 31-year-old Branham, an 11-year veteran of the active duty U.S. Air Force, teaches secondary social studies in a Mansfield-area high school. During his military service, the Plymouth High School graduate earned bachelor’s degrees in history and political science.
Branham, who signed up for the Air Force even before he finished high school in 2007, returned to Richland County from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota when his military career ended in 2018.
His address is officially in Crestline, though he lives in the Ontario school district.
Branham, who said he always knew he wanted to be a teacher, has also had a life-long interest in government and politics. He took out petitions for the Senate race in May 2019.
“Most people feel that conservative values are under attack,” said Branham, adding his background makes him a different candidate.
“Businessmen and lawyers are always represented in Columbus,” he said. “Columbus loses nothing if Mark or Ron lose this race. I would ask voters what kind of experience they want serving on their behalf.
“Do they want what they have always gotten? Or do they want a guy who has been in the trenches literally and figuratively? I fought literally with weapons in my hands for our way of life,” Branham said.
Branham said the election system is not financially conducive for a newcomer and that he has had to work harder to get his message out.
“I am not a ‘blue-chip prospect.’ But no one has put in more miles or made themselves more available. I think in 2020 people are tired of politicians just throwing money at an election,” Branham said.
“I made my own fliers, my own business cards. I strategically placed yard signs. If this race comes down to money, I won’t win and it won’t be close. If it comes down to hard work and conservative, Christian values, I will win and it won’t be close,” Branham said.
The 50-year-old Brunswick mayor is making his first run at state office, but he is not new to politics, having served on city council in the Medina County community before being elected mayor.
In fact, it’s Falconi’s experience in local government that he thinks helps make him a better candidate.
“A lot of (other Republicans in the race) are going to have the same conservative views,” Falconi said. “I am someone who has municipal government experience with regards to some of those same issues.
“I know when some of these state laws get passed how it will affect cities, counties, townships and villages. The (22nd District) needs someone who can appreciate these differences and how it affects people outside of Columbus. It needs someone who is an outsider to Columbus and I am an outsider,” Falconi said.
Falconi is the son of immigrants who met at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, applying for visas to come to the United States. Born and raised in northeastern Ohio, he earned a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University, where he majored in political science with a concentration in international studies. He received his law degree from the University of Akron, and he has a license to practice law in Ohio and U.S. District Court.
Falconi was invited to speak at various locations at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland and was selected by the Trump Campaign to serve on its Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee during the election. Last year, he was invited to speak at the White House during Filipino American History Month to discuss his background and growing up in the United States.
Falconi said he was disappointed the state GOP state central committee chose to endorse in the primary.
“They didn’t have a competitive process, interview or even a questionnaire,” he said. “We weren’t even formally notified.”
A former assistant county prosecutor who maintains his private law practice today, Falconi said voters should select someone who is an outsider with municipal government experience and knows how to fight bad guys.
“I am an attorney who stands up and fights for the rights of people every day. I would like to fight on behalf of all the district’s residents,” Falconi said.
Tim Hoven
The 68-year-old Hoven, making his first run for elected office, said he is nearing retirement, working as a maintenance supervisor. He is a former private business owner.
Hoven said he has followed politics most of his life and enjoys questioning politicians and elected officials. He said he decided to run for the Senate seat when he saw it would be open and promised he would only serve one term if elected.
“I am not looking to make career of this,” he said. “You have a couple of career guys running for the office and then you have Cory and I.
“I have lived here my whole life and my family goes back here about 150 years,” Hoven said, adding his greatly concerned about the problems associated with illegal drugs and discipline in the public schools.
“We have to nip (these issues) in the bud and I’m not sure Ron or Mark are willing to stick their necks out to do that,” Hoven said. “This cancer is spreading throughout the state and it has to be stopped somewhere.”
Hoven, who said he would like to see political candidates be required to donate unused campaign funds to charity, said he has a clear message to those voting on Tuesday.
“If they are career politicians, get them out and get fresh blood into office. That’s what we need. Mark and Ron are nice people. But we need someone new,” Hoven said.
A fifth name will appear on the primary ballot. Michael Reynolds of Wadsworth announced in February he was pulling out of the race and endorsing Falconi.
